Anatomy of the olfactory nerve: A comprehensive review with cadaveric dissection

Abstract

Because of their anatomical situation, the olfactory nerves constitute a natural obstacle to exploring the anterior cranial fossa, making them vulnerable to traumatic, tumor, or iatrogenic lesions. Consequently, accurate knowledge of their microsurgical anatomy is of particular importance for surgeons to ensure the correct execution of surgical procedures with minimal sequelae, the least functional deterioration, and better therapeutic results. This review describes the functional and microsurgical anatomy of the olfactory nerves, illustrated with pictures of simulations based on cadaveric dissections and original illustrations of the central connections of the olfactory pathway. Clin. Anat. 31:109-117,

What's that smell? A pictorial review of the olfactory pathways and imaging assessment of the myriad pathologies that can affect them

“…Aromatic molecules within the air are inspired and directed to the posterosuperior region of each nasal cavity, to the olfactory neuroepithelium [4]. The olfactory neuroepithelium is made up of approximately 6-10 million neurons, occupying an area of 2.5cm 2 [5].…”

Perioperative olfactory dysfunction in patients with meningiomas of the anteromedial skull base

“…Both olfactory bulbs project olfactory sensory information via the olfactory tracts to the corresponding olfactory trigone, where the olfactory tracts divide into medial and lateral olfactory striae prior to reaching the central olfactory cortex and secondary olfactory areas (Pinto, ; Patel and Pinto, ; López‐Elizalde et al, ). Bilaterally, the cribriform plate and olfactory groove form an osseous notch partially covering the olfactory bulb and tract.…”

“…Bilaterally, the cribriform plate and olfactory groove form an osseous notch partially covering the olfactory bulb and tract. The olfactory trigone is located in close vicinity to the medial sphenoid wing, optic nerve, dorsal aspect of the planum sphenoidale, and anterior clinoid process (Jallo and Benjamin, ; Patel et al, ; López‐Elizalde et al, ). Thereby, meningiomas inducing a midline shift across the frontal base or meningiomas located at the olfactory groove, planum sphenoidale, or medial sphenoid wing pose a potential risk for impairing olfactory function (Fig.…”

Regional deposition of the allergens and micro-aerosols in the healthy human nasal airways

“…There is uncertainty about the makeup of the olfactory area. Three different areas were defined for the olfactory region based on the data found in the earlier literature ( Shang et al, 2015b ; Arthur C. Guyton, 2016 ; Dong, Ma, et al, 2018 ; Gleeson & Clarke, 2008 ; Leopold et al, 1995 ; López-Elizalde et al, 2018 ; Mark F. Bear et al, 2007 ; Moran et al, 1982 ; Sahin-Yilmaz & Naclerio, 2011 ; Y. Shang, Dong, Inthavong, & Tu, 2015 ; Shang et al, 2015b ; Suman, 2013 ) ( Fig. 2 ).…”

“…There is an uncertainty in the literature of the field about the size of this region. For example, the size olfactory area is reported to be in the range of 1–10 for each nasal passage ( Arthur C. Guyton, 2016 ; Bear, Connors, & Paradiso, 2007 ; Leopold et al, 1995 ; López-Elizalde et al, 2018 ; Mark F.; Moran, Rowley, Jafek, & Lovell, 1982 ; Sahin-Yilmaz & Naclerio, 2011 ). Because of that, some researchers investigated the nano-particle deposition on this region assuming different sizes for the olfactory area ( Garcia, Schroeter, & Kimbell, 2015 ), which showed a noticeable effect for a range of particle diameters.…”